Masters Leaderboard Tightens As Final Round Tee Times Announced
Masters Leaderboard Tightens As Final Round Tee Times Announced...
The 2026 Masters Tournament is heading into a dramatic final round, with tee times announced Sunday morning as the leaderboard remains tightly contested. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and rising star Will Zalatoris will play together in the final pairing at 2:40 PM ET, separated by just one stroke at Augusta National.
Golf fans are closely tracking the tee times after a chaotic moving day saw five players within three shots of the lead. The tournament is trending nationally as Americans tune in for what could be the closest Masters finish since 2020. CBS Sports will broadcast the final round starting at 1 PM ET.
Defending champion Jon Rahm sits three strokes back in fourth place, teeing off at 2:20 PM with PGA Tour rookie sensation Michael Thorbjornsen. Tiger Woods, who made his record 24th consecutive cut Friday, will begin his final round at 12:45 PM after slipping to +7 overall.
Augusta National officials moved up tee times due to forecasted afternoon thunderstorms in Georgia. The weather could play a decisive role, with winds expected to gust up to 20 mph during the leaders' back nine. Tournament chairman Fred Ridley confirmed all grandstands and hospitality areas will remain open unless lightning is detected.
Betting markets saw significant movement overnight, with Scheffler's odds shortening to 5/4 after his third-round 68. Zalatoris, seeking his first major victory, is now the second favorite at 3/1. The tight competition has driven a 47% increase in Masters-related Google searches compared to Saturday morning.
Merchandise sales at the Augusta National Golf Shop reportedly set a single-day record Saturday, with the iconic white caddie uniforms and final round pin flags among the hottest items. Tournament organizers expect over 100,000 spectators on the grounds Sunday despite the threatening weather.
Sunday's pairings feature several compelling storylines beyond the leaders. Rory McIlroy will attempt to complete the career Grand Slam from four strokes back, teeing off at 1:50 PM with LIV Golf's Cameron Smith. The two haven't played together since Smith joined the rival tour in 2024.
Local favorite Russell Henley, the only Georgia native in contention, will play alongside Hideki Matsuyama at 2:10 PM. Henley's surprising surge has drawn large galleries all week at the course just 130 miles from his hometown of Macon.
Digital traffic to Masters.com has broken records throughout the weekend, with the leaderboard tracker and featured group coverage accounting for 62% of visits. The tournament's decision to maintain free streaming access, unlike other majors, has been widely praised on social media.
With $20 million in prize money at stake and the famous green jacket awaiting the winner, Sunday's final round promises high drama. The last six Masters have all been decided by two strokes or fewer, a trend likely to continue given the packed leaderboard.
